I blog about my jewelry inspirations. Readers will find that various elements of nature are my inspirations. Of course, I include jewelry making tips. This blog also includes some of my favorite Etsy shops, bead shops and jewelry customers.

Just seeing the silk ribbons reminded me of my recent trip to the
southwest. While there I took an amazing train ride from Durango to
Silverton, Colorado. This trip followed a beautiful green river through
the mountains. My design using Marsha's new colors was inspired by this train ride. I look forward to creating some
jewelry with these gorgeous silks.

I ordered two palettes of "Down by the River" silks--one for me and one as a giveaway. Anyone who comments on my blogs can earn 1 entry to a drawing. Following by blog earns another entry. A third entry can be made by posting a comment with a link to a social media sight like twitter, facebook etc. in a comment on my blog.

A winner will be announced September 30. I am keeping the contest open until then to give all the blogger who are in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party a chance to enter when they read my blog about my beads and design. I will be blogging on August 25 about what I created with beads that are sent to me from the UK by my partner Hannah Annear. Hannah will be blogging about what I sent to her in Cornwall. I will give her one hint. The package does include one of Marsha Neal's beautiful silks, however, it isn't from the "Down by the River" palette.

The ribbon that Hannah will get comes from a gorgeous palette of blues and purples that I bought from Marsha last year when I was looking for some silks to pair with some diachronic glass pendants.

This sapphire blue diachronic focal is suspended from about 18 inches of royal blue and turquoise
silk ribbons. I meticulously wrapped the ends of both of the silk ribbons with non
tarnish silver wire before attaching the silver clasp.

This is a gorgeous focal that I purchased years back and finally got
around to making it into a necklace. It was created by artisan Nikki Blanchard one of my favorite
designers. When I first saw it, I knew that all it need was something
substantial but simple to suspended the stunning focal. I finally
located a gorgeous hand dyed silk by Marsha Neal which was the perfect
blue color. I combined it with black leather cord. The focal is
suspended from about 18 inches of the silk and leather. The leather was added due to the weight of the focal. I meticulously
wrapped the ends of the silk and leather before attaching the clasp
which has a complimentary floral motif.

What do you think I will do with the silk ribbons from "Down by the River"? I am thinking that they will provide me with the opportunity to put some of my sea glass collection into a necklace.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

I entered Marsha Neal's Silk Color challenge, and I am thrilled to say that the silks that I selected came in third place. I picked 9 colors that were inspired by a recent trip to the southwest.
While there I took an amazing train ride from Durango, Colorado to
Silverton, Colorado. This trip followed a beautiful green river through
the mountains. My design using Marsha's new colors is called "Down by
the River" and is inspired by this train ride. It is the third palette from the left in the photo above. I want to thank all who voted especially those who voted for me. I look forward to creating some jewelry with these gorgeous silks.

During the first week these new palettes are for sale (as soon as they
are updated or June 26 through July 1, 2012) anyone that purchases a
palette from Round 1 or Round 2 finalists gets an entry for a $50 Gift Certificate to her Etsy shop.

2. Create and photograph projects using these silk palettes (round 1 and 2 all apply).

3. Blog or share those photographs about the projects and your inspirations.

4. I will be hosting some design challenges/ blog hops around things you make with these silks so you can show off your stuff!Those of you who love silk ribbons and who doesn't you might want to join the fun.

What do you think I will create? I am thinking that I may want to use some of the sea glass that I have been hoarding since my Christmas trip to Isa Mujeres, Mexico where I picked up lots just outside of our house.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Marsha Neal is having a contest that allows you to pick 10 colors of silks from her new color palette and create a mosaic with a real cool tool called Mosaic Maker. I picked 10 colors that were inspired by a recent trip to the southwest. While there I took an amazing train ride from Durango, Colorado to Silverton, Colorado. This trip followed a beautiful green river through the mountains. My design using Marsha's new colors is called "Down by the River" and is inspired by this train ride.

I encourage you to try Mosaic Maker out and participate in Marsha's contest.